Melbourne's prepared to keep you busy for the coming week. From Chaka Khan’s soulful hits to Soft Cell’s long-awaited synth-pop debut, live music is booming. Families can hunt 80,000 Easter eggs in Bendigo or dive into creative workshops at Kids Day Out, while whisky connoisseurs tour Bakery Hill Distillery for rare tastings.
The Comedy Festival wraps up with big names and late-night chaos like Midnight Karaoke, where comedians murder pop songs. Active people can join the Good Friday Fun Run, or crack the Easter Charm Hunt’s city-wide puzzle. Whether you crave laughs, live tunes or family fun, Melbourne’s got you covered
Here’s everything that’s on in Melbourne this weekend, Friday, 18 April, Saturday, 19 April and Sunday, 20 April.
Catch Grammy Royalty Chaka Khan Live
Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, Friday, 18 April, Doors open at 7pm.
Melbourne, 10-time Grammy winner and freshly minted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Chaka Khan is performing this weekend, and we can't help you if you miss it. The voice behind timeless anthems like ‘Ain’t Nobody,’ ‘I’m Every Woman,’ and that iconic Rufus era banger ‘Tell Me Something Good’ (thanks, Stevie Wonder) is bringing five decades of funk, sass and soul. Beyond the hits, Chaka’s a certified legend—Broadway star, fragrance mogul and mental health advocate (her foundation does serious work). Expect a masterclass in vocal power, a disco-worthy band and maybe even a surprise jazz riff or two.
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Bendigo Easter Festival: The Ultimate Family Day Trip This Long Weekend
30 Gaol Rd, Bendigo, April 18- April 21, Check website for hours.
Put away your chocolate bunnies—Bendigo Easter Festival is where the real holiday begins. Join as Rosalind Park transforms into a four-day wonderland of carnival rides, markets and enough Easter eggs to send your kids into a sugar frenzy (80,000 hidden on Good Friday alone). The activities kick off with the Awakening of the Dragon, where 100,000 firecrackers and lion dancers celebrate Bendigo's rich Chinese heritage. Saturday night brings the spectacular Torchlight Procession— glowing floats and fireworks lighting up the regional sky.Sunday's Gala Parade, featuring Dai Gum Loong, the world's longest imperial dragon (yes, you read that right), will be weaving through Bendigo's historic streets. Between carnival rides, roving performers and the massive Rotary Market, you'll need the whole long weekend to do it justice.
Bakery Hill’s Behind-the-Scenes Whisky Tour – With Barrel Tastings!
411 Macaulay Road Kensington, Every Thursday & Saturday, Check website for hours.
Calling all whisky lovers—this is your golden ticket. Bakery Hill, one of Australia’s most respected single malt producers, is opening its (usually off-limits) distillery doors for an exclusive 90-minute tour led by the actual distillers. Forget sterile tastings—this is a full sensory deep dive. You’ll snack on malted barley, inhale peat smoke and sip spirit straight from the barrel like a true whisky outlaw. The tour wraps with a tasting of Bakery Hill’s core range (six generous drams) and the chance to snag distillery-only bottlings at discounted prices. Just remember—tours are limited, so book fast or sob into your supermarket blend later.
Have a Creative (And Charitable) Kids’ Day Out This School Holiday!
MCEC, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Friday, 18 April, Begins at 10am
This Good Friday, the Kids Soirée at Kids Day Out is taking over with a full day of hands-on, gloriously messy workshops—all while raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. From slime-making (what kid doesn’t love a slippery handful of goop?) to drip-paint teddy bear keychains and air clay figurines, there’s a creative session every 30 minutes to keep tiny hands busy (and parents capturing the results). Best part? The more tickets you book, the bigger the discount—so grab the cousins, the neighbours or the entire playgroup and make a playdate of it!
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Last Laughs: Final Week to Catch Comedy Festival's Best Acts
Various locations, Until 21 April, 2025, Check website for hours.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is about to have its final curtain call soon, and you need to visit! While big-name acts like Rhys Nicholson and Tom Gleeson are selling fast, some of the best laughs are happening at smaller shows. The festival’s final weekend always brings surprise guest appearances (we’ve seen Hannah Gadsby pop up unannounced) and desperate-to-please energy from comics chasing that last laugh. For families, The Greatest Magic Show at Arts Centre Melbourne delivers gasp-worthy illusions wrapped in hilarious comedy, while the Comedy Club for Kids at Victoria Hotel lets young audiences experience stand-up tailored just for them (yes, the jokes are actually funny for adults too). With shows selling fast, now's your chance to grab those remaining tickets.
AFL Gear, Violins & Pet Furniture? Vinnie’s Pop-Up Has It All (For a Steal)
The District Docklands, 440 Docklands Dr, Docklands, April 9- April 18, Check website for hours.
Calling all bargain hunters and vintage lovers—Vinnie’s Pop-Up Shophas landed in Docklands for 10 days only, and it’s a treasure trove of wild finds. Think brand-new instruments, corporate clothing, winter coats and even popcorn makers (yes, really). Whether you’re after a footy scarf, a quirky homeware piece or just a guilt-free retail therapy hit, this pop-up’s eclectic mix has something for everyone. And the best part? Every dollar goes straight to Vinnies Victoria, funding food relief, housing support and financial aid for locals in need. Shop the good stuff, do good at the same time—win-win!
Iliza Shlesinger: The Millennial Comedy Queen Takes Over Melbourne
Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank, Sunday, 20 April, 7:00pm
If you’re after a night of razor-sharp laughs, Iliza Shlesinger’s Get Ready Tour is the place to be. The Netflix superstar—who has racked up six hit specials (Hot Forever, Elder Millennial, Unveiled)—is known for her whip-smart takes on modern life, relationships and the chaos of being a woman in the year 2025. Beyond stand-up, she’s a bestselling author (All Things Aside), podcast host (Ask Iliza Anything), and even a dog-loving fragrance creator (Christmas Mouth, RIP Blanche). Catch her live before she jets off to her next sold-out show, because when Iliza’s on stage, anything goes.
Karaoke, But Make It a Roast
Comedy Republic, 231 Bourke St, 18 April & 19 April, Begins at 12am
If your idea of a fun night involves pop bangers, comedians butchering (or accidentally nailing) karaoke classics and a shirtless bartender (yes, really), then Two Hearts’ Midnight Karaoke is for you! Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore (with sidekick Eli Matthewson) are bringing their late-night party to Melbourne for the first time. Expect surprise guest comedians attempting very questionable renditions of your favorite songs and just the right amount of (optional) audience humiliation. With rotating performers and zero predictability, no two nights are the same—just pray you don’t get dragged on stage for an impromptu duet. Where else can you witness a comic absolutely crush Don’t Stop Believin’ at 1 AM?
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Start Your Easter Weekend Right—With a Run That Makes a Difference
Princes Park, 200-590 Royal Parade, Carlton North, Friday, 18 APril, 9:00am onwards
Want to balance out those upcoming hot cross bun calories while doing something meaningful? The Well Thanks Run Club is hosting its first-ever Good Friday Fun Run at Princes Park, with all proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. You can choose your challenge—3km, 6km or 9km—to walk, jog or sprint alongside a crowd of Melburnians united for a great cause. Expect a buzzing atmosphere, post-run snacks (well earned!) and that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing your entry fee is helping sick kids. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to justify an extra chocolate egg later.
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The Self-Guided Game Turning Melbourne Into a Giant Escape Room
190 Pelham St Carlton, Until 27 April, Check website for hours.
Save the Easter Eggs for the kiddos—Melbourne’s Easter Charm Hunt is the city’s most exciting family adventure yet. This self-directed app-based mystery turns the CBD into a giant puzzle board, where you’ll hunt for seven lost charms to restore Melbourne’s vanished luck. Imagine an escape room meets scavenger hunt, with riddles that’ll stump the adults (while the kids smugly solve them in seconds). Using the Questo app, you’ll follow clues through laneways, past landmarks and to hidden spots you’ve probably walked right by before. No guides, no time slots—just your people, your phones and the thrill of taking each step together. Plus, watching grandma try to decode a riddle is priceless!
Soft Cell’s First-Ever Aussie Tour: Live in Melbourne
Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, Thursday, 17th April, Doors open at 7pm
After 40 years of teasing us on every 80s playlist, Soft Cell are finally bringing their synth-pop magic to Australia—and Melbourne gets a full night of ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ + Marc Almond’s solo hits. The iconic duo (Marc Almond and David Ball) will perform their seminal album in full, including ‘Bedsitter’, ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ and that one song that’s been stuck in your head since 1981. Then, Almond takes the spotlight for a second set of his own cult classics (‘Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart’, anyone?). Expect leather, drama and a crowd that knows every word to ‘Tainted Love’.
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